It bolsters a new design which is cleaner and more precise than previous generations.

For a while, you could’ve accused BMW with being fairly safe with its designs being evolutionary opposed to a complete overhaul.

Models such as the Z4 and bolder new choices one the X7 see the company experimenting again.

While the new 3 Series isn’t a complete departure in style it is more aggressive and muscular with a bold new kidney grille, sharp headlights, resigned bumpers and precise bonnet lines.

The new car is 85 millimetres longer than its predecessor (at 4,709mm), 16 millimetres wider (1,827mm) and just 1 mm taller (1,442 millimetres).

Added to that, its wheelbase has been extended by 41 millimetres to 2,851mm, as has its track widths (front: by 43mm, and rear by 21mm).

New BMW 3 Series 2019 (Image: BMW)

New BMW 3 Series 2019 (Image: BMW)

At the rear there is also new light design with are more refined than the previous generation.

Powering the car is a choice of upgraded four-cylinder engines mated to a new generation six-speed manual gearbox and the eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

The car can also be specified with the x-Drive all-wheel-drive system on the 320d model.

The revised diesel has a maximum output of 190hp and a peak torque of 400Nm enabling the BMW 320d to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds (automatic: 6.8 seconds) while the BMW 320d xDrive can get from zero to 62mph in 6.9 seconds.

New BMW 3 Series 2019 (Image: BMW)

Average fuel consumption is 64.2mpg (automatic: 67.3mpg) for the 320d and 62.8mpg for the 320d xDrive.

Improvements to the chassis have made the car 25 per cent more rigid but also lighter, weighing 55kg less than the previous generation.

The car also befits from new suspensions which have numerous modes which can modify its characteristics when in deriving driving does, making it softer or harder.

Its aerodynamics has also been improved, with the introduction of calmest complete underbody sealing which, in addition to the car’s revised design has seen the coefficient improved from 0-26 to 0.23.

New BMW 3 Series 2019 (Image: BMW)

New BMW 3 Series 2019 (Image: BMW)

The new 3 Series also includes Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) which features anti-lock braking (ABS) and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), but also a variety of stabilising functions and the Start-Off Assistant.

As standard, there are 17-inch light-alloy wheels while the Sport and M Sport models feature unique 18-inch wheel designs and optional 19-inch light-alloy wheels are available, as are high-performance tyres.

Inside the car, BMW says the interior has been designed to “accentuate the spaciousness of the cabin and the driver-focused cockpit.”

The instrument cluster boasts a new design and there are a number of different trim packages available.

BMW also says there is more space inside the cabin including 11mm more legroom for rear passengers and more headroom.

New BMW 3 Series 2019 (Image: BMW)

Handy features like ISOFIX child seat points have been equipped in the rear side sides and the back row has a 40:20:40 configuration which should aid practicality.

It has a fairly generous boot capacity of 480litreswhich can be extended when the rear seats are folded down.

As you move up the trim levels things such as the informant systems an grow to 10.3-inches in size and more premium materials and features can be specified.

A number of deriving assistance systems come as standard, namely, Active Guard Plus which includes speed limit information, lane departure warning and Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function along with Cruise Control with braking function.

The BMW 3 Series is on sale from 9 March 2019 with OTR prices starting from £33,610.